Morning, June 19
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Bible League: Living His Word
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

The Apostle Paul had to suffer a lot after he became a Christian. Indeed, he had to suffer much more than most Christians ever have or ever will. In point of fact, Jesus told Ananias that he was going to show Paul "how much he must suffer for the sake of my name" (Acts 9:16). He had been imprisoned a number of times, whipped and beaten many times, stoned, shipwrecked, and faced danger and trials of many kinds (II Corinthians 11:23-27). And if that were not enough, he also had to contend with a "thorn" in the flesh that hindered his ministry (II Corinthians 12:7). Nevertheless, in our verse for today Paul tells us that all the suffering is not worth comparing with what is yet to come.

Jesus told us that He came so that His disciples may have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10), but He also told us that in this world we will have tribulations (John 16:33) and persecutions (Matthew 5:10-11). Paul experienced the extremes of Jesus' words. On the one hand, he had a life more abundant than most. He was full of the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit and he had a powerful ministry all over the known world. But he also suffered many trials, troubles, tribulations, and persecutions. He knew the heights of the Christian experience in this dispensation and he knew the depths as well. And when he sums it all up, as he does in our verse for today, he says that all the tribulations and persecutions are not worth comparing with the abundance of life that is still to come.

What is it that Paul says our troubles are not worth comparing to? What is the glory that is yet to come? It is the glory of everything associated with the second coming of Jesus Christ (I Peter 4:13). The Bible gives us only hints as to what this will be like. Paul himself says that this glory is a hope that cannot be seen yet, nevertheless we should wait for it with patience (Romans 8:23-25).

Today, when the troubles of life strike, take thought of the future glory that reduces them to insignificance.

Bible in a Year
Old Testament Reading
Nehemiah 9, 10, 11


Nehemiah 9 -- The Israelites Confess Their Sin, Covenant Results

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Nehemiah 10 -- Signers and Obligations of the Covenant

  NIV   NLT   ESV   NAS   GWT   KJV   ASV   ERV   DRB


Nehemiah 11 -- New Residents of Jerusalem and Judah

  NIV   NLT   ESV   NAS   GWT   KJV   ASV   ERV   DRB


New Testament Reading
Acts 4:1-22


Acts 4 -- Peter and John Arrested and Released; Believers Share All

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Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library.
Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion
Then Jesus told them, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don't doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' and it will happen.”
Insight
Many have wondered about Jesus' statement that if we have faith and don't doubt, we can move mountains. Jesus, of course, was not suggesting that his followers use prayer as “magic” and perform capricious “mountain-moving” acts. Instead, he was making a strong point about the disciples' (and our) lack of faith.
Challenge
What kinds of mountains do you face? Have you talked to God about them? How strong is your faith?
Morning and Evening by Spurgeon
Acts 2:4  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost.

Rich were the blessings of this day if all of us were filled with the Holy Ghost. The consequences of this sacred filling of the soul it would be impossible to overestimate. Life, comfort, light, purity, power, peace; and many other precious blessings are inseparable from the Spirit's benign presence. As sacred oil, he anoints the head of the believer, sets him apart to the priesthood of saints, and gives him grace to execute his office aright. As the only truly purifying water he cleanses us from the power of sin and sanctifies us unto holiness, working in us to will and to do of the Lord's good pleasure. As the light, he manifested to us at first our lost estate, and now he reveals the Lord Jesus to us and in us, and guides us in the way of righteousness. Enlightened by his pure celestial ray, we are no more darkness but light in the Lord. As fire, he both purges us from dross, and sets our consecrated nature on a blaze. He is the sacrificial flame by which we are enabled to offer our whole souls as a living sacrifice unto God. As heavenly dew, he removes our barrenness and fertilizes our lives. O that he would drop from above upon us at this early hour! Such morning dew would be a sweet commencement for the day. As the dove, with wings of peaceful love he broods over his Church and over the souls of believers, and as a Comforter he dispels the cares and doubts which mar the peace of his beloved. He descends upon the chosen as upon the Lord in Jordan, and bears witness to their sonship by working in them a filial spirit by which they cry Abba, Father. As the wind, he brings the breath of life to men; blowing where he listeth he performs the quickening operations by which the spiritual creation is animated and sustained. Would to God, that we might feel his presence this day and every day.

Daily Light on the Daily Path
Hebrews 2:14  Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,

John 3:3  Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."

Revelation 21:27  and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Leviticus 19:2  "Speak to all the congregation of the sons of Israel and say to them, 'You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.

1 Peter 1:14-17  As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, • but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; • because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY." • If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth;

Ephesians 4:22-24  that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, • and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, • and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

Ephesians 1:4  just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org.

Evening June 18
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